An exposition with practical observations continued upon the eighth, ninth and tenth chapters of…An exposition with practicall observations continued upon the eighth, ninth and tenth chapters of…

A second interpretation gives this sense, I am perfect, yet I know not my own soul; that is, I am so pressed and overwhelmed with these afflictions, that I cannot feel my self, I scarce know whether I am alive or dead: I know not where I am, my soul doth not act it's offices, my soul is (as it were) benumbed in me, or asleep; there is not that vigour or activity in my spirit, which I have found heretofore; I despise such a life as this is, who would live a life which is a continued death? There is a truth in this. For as extreme and excessive joys carry a man so far beyond himself, that he scarce knows whether he be alive or no (some have had experience of such raptures and ecstasies of joy, in communion with God) 'Twas so with Paul in a case somewhat like (2 Cor. 12.) Whether in the body, I cannot tell, or whether out of the body, I cannot tell (saith he) for my part, I could not tell what to make of my self, or what became of my body: As (I say) it is thus in the excesses of spiritual joy and consolation; so sometimes in the excesses of anguish and sorrow, a man scarce knows whether he be alive or dead, what his state is, whether in the body or out of the body: he regards neither hot nor cold, friend or foe, wife or children, he forgets to eat his bread.

A second interpretation gives this sense, I am perfect, yet I know not my own soul; that is, I am so pressed and overwhelmed with these afflictions, that I cannot feel my self, I scarce know vvhether I am alive or dead: I know not where I am, my soul doth not act it's offices, my soul is (as it vvere) benum'd in me, or asleep; there is not that vigour or activity in my spirit, vvhich I have found heretofore; I despise such a life as this is, vvho vvould live a life vvhich is a continued death? There is a truth in this. For as extream and excessive joyes carry a man so farre beyond himself, that he scarce knows vvhether he be alive or no (some have had experience of such raptures and extasies of joy, in commuion vvith God) T'was so vvith Paul in a case somewhat like (2 Cor. 12.) Whether in the body, I cannot tell, or whether out of the body, I cannot tell (saith he) for my part, I could not tell vvhat to make of my self, or vvhat became of my body: As (I say) it is thus in the excesses of spirituall joy and consolation; so somet•mes in the excesses of anguish and sorrow, a man scarce knows vvhether he be alive or dead, vvhat his state is, vvhether in the body or out of the body: he regards neither hot nor cold, friend or foe, wife or children, he forgets to eat his bread.